JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – The University of South Carolina Beaufort baseball team was on the road for the first time this season and earned a 12–9 victory over Edward Waters on Tuesday afternoon. The Sand Sharks used back-to-back three-run innings in the seventh and eighth to pull away before closing out the win.
USCB improved to 3–2 on the season, while Edward Waters fell to 4–4. The victory completed the two-game season sweep over the Tigers.
The Sand Sharks were led offensively by Tyler Gundelfinger, who finished with three hits, four RBIs, and a run scored. Cooper McDaniel added three hits, three runs, and two RBIs, while Noah Campbell recorded two hits and scored three runs.
USCB struck first after a scoreless opening inning. In the second, Maddox Robinson singled with one out and stole second base before coming home on an RBI single up the middle by Gundelfinger to give the Sand Sharks a 1–0 lead.
Edward Waters responded in the bottom of the inning, scoring two runs after a single and a hit batter set up back-to-back RBI singles, giving the Tigers a 2–1 advantage.
The Tigers extended their lead in the third inning with a runner on first the next batter hit a two-run home run to right field, making the score 4–1.
In the fourth inning, the Sand Sharks answered. A leadoff single set up runners on first and third, and a wild pitch brought home a run. Terry Dean followed with a game-tying RBI single to score Gundelfinger and tie the game at 4–4.
Edward Waters answered again in the bottom of the inning, using a single to set up a two-run home run and regain the lead at 6–4.
The Sand Sharks cut into the deficit in the fifth. Jon Davis reached third base with nobody out, and Noah Campbell lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to make it 6–5. McDaniel later tied the game at 6–6 after scoring on a wild pitch.
The Tigers took the lead once more in the sixth, going ahead 7–6, but USCB broke through in the seventh to regain the advantage. With the bases loaded, Robinson drew a walk to force in the tying run. Gundelfinger followed with an RBI single to right-center, scoring McDaniel to give the Sand Sharks an 8–7 lead. A walk by Mack Cromer brought home another run, capping a three-run inning and extending the lead to 9–7.
USCB continued its offensive momentum in the eighth, scoring three more runs. Davis and Campbell reached base to begin the inning, and McDaniel delivered a two-RBI double. McDaniel later scored on an RBI single by Gundelfinger to push the lead to 12–7.
Edward Waters answered with a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth to cut the deficit to 12–9, but the Sand Sharks prevented any further damage. Joe Turner pitched a perfect ninth inning, striking out two Tigers to seal the 12–9 victory.
The Sand Sharks will remain on the road as they open conference play with a three-game series against Georgia Southwestern State.
Stay tuned to uscbathletics.com and follow Sand Shark Athletics on social media for the latest news, updates, and information.
